The hero, severian, is a lictora professional torturerwhose entire life has been dedicated to the infliction of agony. The volume opens with a young man named silk getting a divine vision. Ill try not to spoil anything from urth, but its been a couple years since ive done a read through so it all sort of blurs together. Recently voted the greatest fantasy of all time, after the lord of the rings and the hobbit, gene wolfes the book of the new sun is an extraordinary epic, set a million years in the future, on an earth transformed in mysterious and wondrous ways, in a time when our present culture is no longer even a memory. A video covering in glory like their star, innocent, and the book of the long sun, especially the nature of typhons plan. It is a reflective, metafictional story, narrating the rise of an apprentice in the order of the seekers for truth and penitence i. Torture and confession in wolfes book of the new sun ultan. If you create a free account and sign in, you will be able to customize what is displayed. Too long exposed to the sun introducing the one and only universal religion this truth that you hold in your hands, dear reader, is the most profound and unique truth. Buy nightside the long sun book of the long sun by gene wolfe from amazons fiction books store. Honestly im not sure how the book of the new sun really resolves, but i kind of like it that way. The book of the short sun 19992001 is a series of three science fantasy novels or one threevolume novel by the american author gene wolfe. Neither the book of the long sun or the book of the short sun are as good, or at least that is my opinion at this time. Aug 28, 2000 the book of the long sun 19936 can only closely follow, or mirror the book of the new sun 19803.
That is not to say that there are no mysteries in the book of the long sun, it is of course a gene wolfe novel, but the plot is much more straightforward and clear than in wolfe s earlier triumph. Gene wolfe s vast tome sets many puzzles for the reader, not the least of which is why on earth it isnt better known alison flood. It has been nearly a decade since the completion of gene wolfes fourvolume epic the book of the new sun, one of the modern masterpieces of imaginative literature an evocation of a world so far in the future that magic and technology, poetry and science, are indistinguishable, a world heavy with time but not yet bereft of hope, a world brought to life by mr. Nightside the long sun is the beginning of the science fiction masterpiece from gene wolfe, book of the long song. This book is a great example of everything i love about wolfe s writing. Oct 10, 2012 wolfe is perhaps best known for this series of four books and one coda which he later spun off into two more series, the book of the long sun and the book of the short sun. The complete book of the new sun gene wolfe macmillan. Davis when it comes to fine print editions of novels and longer works, it is common to see the classics of literature. The book of the long sun 19936 can only closely follow, or mirror the book of the new sun 19803. Nightside the long sun is the beginning of the science fiction masterpiece from gene wolfe, book of the long sun. Set aboard a vast starship traveling for generations, the book of the long sun is a masterpiece of science fiction. Nov 14, 2017 the citadel of the autarch brings the book of the new sun to its harrowing conclusion, as severian clashes in a final reckoning with the dread autarch, fulfilling an ancient prophecy that will forever alter the realm known as urth. May 21, 2015 a video covering in glory like their star, innocent, and the book of the long sun, especially the nature of typhons plan. Good to know ill make sure to power through to get to that epic trademark gene wolfe mind explosion.
It inaugurated the socalled solar cycle that wolfe continued by setting other works in the same universe. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. It is stylistically different from the book of the new sun, its style more transparent and, as wolfe called it, journalistic. It has been remarked thousands of times, wolfe once said. The two novels combined in this omnibus calde of the long sun and exodus from the long sun comprise the second half of gene wolfes long novel, the book. On to the massive, ambitious, creative, and flawed the book of the new sun. Ive never heard this complaint about wolfes other sun titles. A good rule of thumb is that series have a conventional name and are intentional creations, on the part of the author or publisher. The book of the long sun, on the other hand, is told in thirdperson and the setting is richly illustrated by wolfe s prose. Nightside the long sun by gene wolfe overdrive rakuten. It is not the purpose of these notes to provide a full or sustained argument, merely to outline some possible ways of proceeding. In my ignorance i hadnt realised the book of the new sun is actually four novels.
The book of the long sun, on the other hand, is told in thirdperson and the setting is richly illustrated by wolfes prose. Read the complete book of the new sun the shadow of the torturer, the claw of the conciliator, the sword of the lictor, the citadel of the autarch, the urth of the new sun by gene wolfe available from rakuten kobo. When the new books hero patera silk, teacher and priest, is touched by a god, it is not. The book of the new sun 19801983 is a series of four science fantasy novels, a tetralogy or single fourvolume novel written by the american author gene wolfe. For the subject it presents, next to the bible itself, that you will ever read. The first half of the book of the long sun by wolfe, gene from amazons fiction books store. It has been nearly a decade since the completion of gene wolfes fourvolume epic the book of the new sun, one of the modern masterpieces of imaginative. Litany of the long sun comprises the first two books of the four. Exodus from the long sun concludes gene wolfes masterful scifi epic series, the book of the long sun. Torture and confession in wolfes book of the new sun. The book of the new sun is a vast exception to that rule.
Nightside the long sun ebook by gene wolfe rakuten kobo. Gene wolfe, the book of the new sun 198083 springerlink. The shadow of the torturerthe claw of the conciliator by gene wolfe. Life on the whorl, and the struggles and triumphs of patera silk to satisfy the demands of the gods, will captivate readers yearning for something new and different in science fiction, for the magic of the future. The series follows the story of patera silk, a priest who becomes a prophet as he learns about the nature of his world and the gods he serves. The title is a multiplex pun, so typical of gene wolfe. The book of the new sun 19803 by gene wolfe is a novel in four books, set in the distant future of the dying earth science fiction subgenre, when the aging sun grows dim. Gene wolfe had originally intended the story to be a 40,000word novella called the feast of saint catherine, meant to be. Im not sure if it was the subject matter or wolfe s approach that made me feel. The book of the long sun is the second major series in wolfes solar or briah cycle, which currently consists of twelve novels in three series. The gods of mainframe, once dependable, now appear to be in conflict with each other. The last volume in the book of the new sun, the citadel of the autarch, had just been published, and i had been reading his fiction since my teens. It is set in the same universe as the book of the new sun series that wolfe inaugurated in 1980, and the internet science fiction database catalogs them both as subseries.
The plots of long sun and short sun books are only tangentially connected. The book of the long sun series by gene wolfe goodreads. Just finished book of the new sun, i have many questions. Beginning with the shadow of the torturer, the book of the new sun is a dying earth story, set in a time when humanity is part of a decadent society living under a red sun. Lake of the long sun book of the long sun by gene wolfe and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
But this is wolfe, and things are subtler than the easy sf summation above. See the complete the book of the long sun series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. Gene wolfes the book of the new sun is a sciencefantasy series, a genre that combines elements of traditional science fiction and fantasy, of five volumes. It is set in the same universe as the book of the new sun series that wolfe inaugurated in 1980, and the internet science fiction database catalogs them both as subseries of the solar cycle, along with other writings. The first was to reread gene wolfes book of the long sun, and then for the first time read his latest saga, the book of the short sun. The book of the new sun is challenging and complex, full of allusions that operate at multiple levels, and multiple readings are necessary to get it all. Litany of the long sun contains the full texts of nightside the long sun and lake of the long sun, that together make up the first half of the book of the long sun. The book of the long sun is the second major series in wolfes solar or briah cycle, which currently consists of twelve novels in three series, and several short stories. Gene wolfe is an american author of science fiction and fantasy novels and stories. Dec 04, 2017 the best way to approach the book of the new sun.
That is not to say that there are no mysteries in the book of the long sun, it is of course a gene wolfe novel, but the plot is much more straightforward and clear than in wolfes earlier triumph. Certainly it is a highlywrought, intelligent, perceptive. Like many concepts in the book world, series is a somewhat fluid and contested notion. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases. Gene wolfes book of the long sun tetralogy ranks as one of the greatest literary achievements of 20thcentury science fiction. Litany of the long sun, comprising the first two books in the series, is suffused with looming transcendence and theophany. Anyway, its nice to know that i can break my selfimposed ignorance in my own good time rather than having to read urth before long sun. The long sun, which stretches from one end of the whorl to the other, shows signs of instability. Wolfes book of the new sun, which is made up of four works the shadow of the torturer 1980, the claw of the conciliator 1981, the sword of the lictor 1982 and the citadel of the autarch 1983 1 has been hailed by numbers of science fiction writers and critics as being the event of the 1980s for the genre. The book of the long sun is another wolfe tetralogy that demonstrates that a decade after his new sun books, wolfe is still in top form. This work is as serious as literature gets, and people who say that genre fiction is not serious literature should be forced to read this.
Nov 23, 2007 on to the massive, ambitious, creative, and flawed the book of the new sun. It was good, but not up to what i considered standard. Wolfe continues the saga begun in nightside the long sun with this curious mix of science and medieval culture in which gods possess people and robotic police patrol. The distant suns of gene wolfe by john farrell articles. Now i need to write about these books, and im afraid it may take me as long. And just as severian, the narrator of the first book, is the new son of god, a man becoming christlike if not christ himself returned, so patera silk, wolfes new protagonist, is the long son, the product of a virgin birth, long tall in. Wolfe is perhaps best known for this series of four books and one coda which he later spun off into two more series, the book of the long sun and the book of the short sun. The first series is the book of the new sun, published between 198082. A guide to gene wolfes the book of the long sun and the book of the short sun 2012 share. Gene wolfe 19312019 was the nebula awardwinning author of the book of the new sun tetralogy in the solar cycle, as well as the world fantasy award winners the shadow of the torturer and soldier of sidon. The book of the long sun 19931996 is a series of four science fantasy novels or one fourvolume novel by the american author gene wolfe. And just as severian, the narrator of the first book, is the new son of god, a man becoming christlike if not christ himself returned, so patera silk, wolfes new protagonist, is the long son, the product of a virgin.
The short sun books i have not yet read, perhaps some day. Wolfe tends to employ a somewhat highfalutin style using words that appear to be neologisms but are anything but, drawn directly or indirectly from archaic words and usages, often latinderived. This document briefly examines the use of torture and confession in gene wolfes book of the new sun and how it both differs from and reflects actual historical practice at least in europe and america. They were both still worth reading, but i have to admit it took short sun to make me appreciate long sun better. And as you begin reading and understanding its message, like an explosion in your head, you will see the truth, that has been kept a secret from.
I read about the situation in your spoiler here on this forum and somehow must have missed it in the long sun books. He was also a prolific writer of distinguished short fiction, which has been collected in such awardwinning volumes as storeys from the old hotel and the best of gene. It is likely this may turn out to be even less clear than i found the books to be. The urth of the new sun is the long awaited sequel to gene wolfe s fourvolume classic, the book of the new sun. Life on the whorl, and the struggles and triumphs of patera silk to satisfy the demands of the gods, will captivate readers yearning for something new. And while tbotns was written entirely in firstperson, the long sun series is in third. Wolfe takes familiar speculative fiction tropes and embeds them in a tale so complex and wonderful that readers may find themselves wondering whether what theyre reading is science fiction, fantasy, or something different altogether. It is the far future, and the giant spaceship, the whorl. This book is a great example of everything i love about wolfes writing. There is always a lot to be found in gene wolfe books, so missing something does not.
Wolfe is known for his dense and allusive prose and the influence his catholic faith has on his work. The immediate sequel to new sun, the urth of the new sun, was published in 1987. This great work is set on a huge generation starship in the same future as the classic book of the new sun also available in two volumes from orb. Aug 05, 20 the book of the new sun is challenging and complex, full of allusions that operate at multiple levels, and multiple readings are necessary to get it all. Apr 30, 2000 the book of the long sun is another wolfe tetralogy that demonstrates that a decade after his new sun books, wolfe is still in top form.
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